'That's how you actually end a live service' — this developer just shut down a free-to-play game by releasing an offline version with no microtransactions for fans to keep playing

Free-to-play live service game Let it Die shut down earlier this week It's not the end, though, as players will still be able to play the game in a new offline state The new offline version costs just $19.99 / £16.99 / AU$28.50 and has all microtransactions removed It feels like a live service game is shutting down every few weeks, and I'm no stranger to the crushing disappointment of learning that one of your favorite games is going offline.

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Normally, the news means you lose access to the game for good — with all your progress, achievements, and in-game items vanishing along with it.

Just look at Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodhunt , Anthem , or Hawked: three offline titles that died in the last few weeks alone and are now completely inaccessible by official means.

Although the reasons for such shutdowns are often understandable, it still seems like a massive waste of resources, development time, and sometimes some genuinely good game mechanics or ideas.

With Let it Die , however, developer Grasshopper Manufacture is defiantly bucking that trend.

The free-to-play game shut down earlier this week after nine whole years on the market, but that doesn't mean it's now unplayable.

The company put in the work to create an offline version, which you can buy on PC or PlayStation 4 for $19.99 / £16.99 / AU$28.50.

You lose some of the original's offline features, but all microtransactions are removed so you can experience the full game without having to open your wallet more than once.

You can even bring over your progress from the online game if you played it before.

A positive example If you're not familiar with Let it Die , it's a roguelike hack-and-slash with a challenging, almost soulslike combat loop that has you battling your way through a massive enemy-filled tower.

Players loved its wacky writing (with iconic characters like its skateboarding rendition of the Grim Reaper) when it first released back in 2016, but microtransactions were pretty pervasive.